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HIGHLIGHTS FROM UTM’S SEPTEMBER FAIRS
This month, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) organized various events aimed at helping students achieve their educational, career, and wellness goals.
>> read more on page 02
Is Canada still an attractive education destination for foreign students?
THE ART OF TATTOOING RUNNING FEVER STRIKES TORONTO
Tattooing has existed for thousands of years in various cultures. One of the oldest proofs of tattooing was found on Ötzi the Iceman, a mummified man who is thought to be 5,300 years old.
>> read more on page 09
Do you find it too hot to run during the summer? How about too cold to run in the winter? Well then, you’re out of excuses for fall when the temperature is just right.
>> read more on page 11
Over the past few months, Canada’s International student system has received much criticism because of the government’s international student visa cap and unfulfilled permanent residency promises, generating concerns and protests where people — namely international students — have criticized Canadian authorities for enabling economic issues, housing deficits, and inadequate employment opportunities for international students.
>> continues on page 05
Singers are the poets
Yusuf Larizza-Ali Contributor
Poetry uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings and words to create literary art. Many poets such as William Wordsworth, William Blake, or Robert Frost are centuries old, and because the most popular poets come from the past it seems that poetry has declined in popularity.
>> continues on page 10
Dominguez Rodriguez
Located in Square One Shopping Centre, La Carnita is a Mexican-inspired restaurant known for its vibrant food and lively atmosphere. The restaurant is only a 10-minute drive and a 37-minute bus ride from the University of Toronto Mississauga.
>> continues page 08
An unprecedented 16 goals, a double hat-trick, and back-to-back wins for the Eagles all took place this past weekend at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)’s South Field.
>> continues on page 12
Wong
The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are turning brown, and it’s time to defrost your pair of Uggs. The end of summer not only marks the beginning of a new school year but also the arrival of fall.
>> continues on page 05
Illustration: Buket S. Baykal
Mariana
Contributor
Debbie
Contributor
Pietro Arrigoni Columnist
Vanessa Bogacki Contributor
02 NEWS
Highlights from UTM’s September fairs
UTM organizations and departments collaborate in various events aimed at student well-being as well as education and career goals.
This month, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) organized various events aimed at helping students achieve their educational, career, and wellness goals. Some events featured different schools, companies and UTM organizations and were set up at the campus’s Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC).
Graduate and Professional Schools Fair
The annual Graduate and Professional Schools Fair was hosted by UTM’s Career Centre and took place on September 10.
According to the fair’s page on the UTM website, the fair “provides an opportunity for students and recent graduates to speak with representatives from programs such as law dentistry, medicine, education, business, social work, graduate studies and college postgraduate studies.”
Dozens of institutions were present at the fair, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, York University, and Queens University. The event featured regional colleges as well, such as Centennial and Humber College, and international institutions like the University of Buffalo, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Southern California.
The fair floor was organized according to the areas of study the institutions were promoting, which included medicine and health, law, business, and teaching.
The fair offered a chance for students inquiring about graduate schools and other related opportunities. “This is an opportunity for students to connect with these institutions, learn about their program offerings, and ask questions about their application process in a fast-paced, high-volume event,” according to the event’s webpage. Fourth-year student at UTM, Ashley Nuguid, shared, that the fair gave her a chance to find out more information about certain programs and graduate schools.
Students who missed the event can head over to the fair’s webpage, where they can see the complete list of the institutions which attended and access other career resources.
Get Hired Fair
On September 18, hosted by UTM’s Career Centre, the Get Hired Fair welcomed nearly 50 organizations from numerous fields to meet with students.
According to their page, the Get Hired Fair allowed students to meet with reps from multiple organizations and learn about a wide range of job opportunities, including internships, full-time jobs, summer jobs, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and tech co-op placements.
This year’s Platinum sponsors were iA Financial Group, Uline, and Soti. The fair also featured big names including multinational accounting firm Ernest & Young, the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, TD Bank, Bell, and Rakuten.
The fair also spotlighted UTM departments, including the UTM Library, International Education Centre, Health and Counselling Centre, and Centre for Student Engagement.
Be Well UTM: Resource and Activity Fair
On September 19, the Health and Counselling Centre (HCC) at UTM hosted its seventh annual “Be Well UTM: Resource & Activity Fair,” which was open to all students, staff and UTM faculty.
The event showcased a wide range of community and on-campus resources, including wellness activities that were aimed at promoting student well-being and success at UTM. Community and campus groups ran information booths at the event where attendees could speak to wellness professionals and find literature on subjects like stress management, physical exercise, and mental health.
The HCC collaborated with UTM organizations like the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, International Education Centre, and UTM Office of Indigenous Initiatives to offer attendees different wellness activities, such as DIY origami, watercolour bookmarks, buttons, and stress balls stations.
The fair also invited attendees to a Game Zone run by the RAWC, where they could play cornhole, giant Jenga, or giant Connect 4. Other events included dog therapy, henna sessions, massages, flower art, and a photo booth
UTM Indigenous Centre hosts AllNations Powwow
Director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives Tee Duke shares insights into this year’s Powwow.
Celesta Maniatogianni Contributor
On September 28, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Indigenous Centre hosted its second AllNations Powwow, a day packed with traditional Indigenous ceremonies, singing, dancing and more.
According to the UTM website, “A Powwow is an Indigenous social celebration where community members can gather and enjoy traditional singing and dancing. All community members, including non-Indigenous, are welcome and are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in what a Powwow has to offer.”
While last year’s All-Nations Powwow was hosted indoors at UTM’s Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre, this year, it was held at the campus’s North Field in front of the Maanjiwe nendamowinan building. Last year, the event had a turnout of an estimated 1,500 visitors.
In an interview with The Medium, Tee Duke, Director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at UTM, says this year featured some differences in “music and dance style among nations.”
The event featured numerous events and activities, with the day starting with the Grand Entry Ceremony and Opening Remarks, followed by the main events, which included Intertribal, Spot and Exhibition Dances first at 1 p.m. and again at 4 p.m.
Duke stated that all community members were welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in the Powwow. People attending the Powwow for the first time were encouraged to watch a webinar on the traditional protocols of Powwows in a YouTube video led by the Powwow’s head dancer, Deanne Hupfield, titled “Powwow Protocols & Etiquette Workshop.”
One important thing to note when attending Powwows is to use the correct terminology when it comes to clothing, for example, the correct term for a Powwow dancer’s clothing is “regalia” and not “costume.”
Other examples of proper etiquette, according to the UTM website, include asking permission before taking photos of dancers and not touching any Eagle Feathers or regalia that have fallen on the ground, as these items are sacred. Instead, attendees should inform the arena director or a dancer.
The powwow also featured two dance competitions, which were sponsored by the UTM Indigenous Centre. The Men’s Traditional Dance Special was held at 2 p.m. and the Jingle Dress Dance Special an hour later—the latter of which was also sponsored by the Indigenous Creation Studio. Prizes ranged from C$100 to C$1,000, along with some jackets.
The Powwow also hosted a marketplace which allowed attendees to support local, Indigenous-run businesses. Vendors at the marketplace sold a variety of goods including jams and preserves, clothing, traditional accessories, beaded work and wellness products.
The Powwow concluded with the Retiring of Flags, Closing Ceremony and Travelling Song.
An asteroid will soon become Earth’s second moon, but not for long
Asteroid 2024 PT5, which will not be visible to the human eye, will remain in Earth’s orbit until
late November.
Samuel Kamalendran News Editor
Astudy published in September in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Association reports that Earth is expected to gain a second mini-moon when an asteroid enters its orbit on September 29.
The asteroid, named 2024 PT5, is about 10 metres long and falls from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which shares a similar orbit around the sun as the Earth and is 150 million kilometres from the Sun.
Due to its dimness, the mini-moon is unlikely to be seen by the naked eye, even for those with a telescope.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 will become gravitationally bound to Earth and exit it after 56.6 days, on November 25, when the Sun’s gravity will cause it to return to the Arjuna belt.
Asteroids like 2024 PT5 come close to the Earth’s orbit, making them a type of Near-Earth object (NEO). According to the September study, Earth can frequently capture asteroids from the NEO population and pull them into orbit, turning them into temporary mini-moons.
The asteroid was discovered on August 7 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Sutherland, South Africa via telescope.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 will follow a horseshoe path and approach Earth at a close range of nearly 4.5 million kilometres and a low relative velocity of around 3,540 kilometres per hour.
“Under these conditions, the geocentric energy of the object may grow negative, and the object may become a temporary moon of Earth,” said the study’s lead author and researcher Carlos de la Fuente Marcos to Space.com. “This particular object will undergo this process starting next week and for about two months. It will not follow a full orbit around Earth.”
Given that 2024 PT5 will not complete a full orbit, it is clasified as a short episode mini-moon, or temporary captured flyby, instead of a long episode, or temporary captured orbiter.
“A short mini-moon episode may last hours, days, weeks or a few months, and the affected object does not complete one revolution around Earth,” stated de la Fuente Marcos to NBC News. “On the other hand, long mini-moon episodes last at least for one year and probably more, and the object involved completes one or more revolutions about Earth.”
Short-episode mini-moons are more frequent, with several being detected every decade, while long-episode events are rarer, with events occurring every one or two decades on average.
Examples of temporarily captured orbiters include 2006 RH120, which remained in Earth’s orbit from July 2006 to July 2007, and the more recent 2020 CD3, first discovered in February 2020 but likely entered Earth’s orbit two or three years earlier.
As a temporary flyby, 2024 PT5 will join the ranks of 1991 VG, which briefly orbited Earth in February 1992 and 2022 NX1, which orbited Earth in 1981 and 2022 and re-enter Earth’s orbit in 2051.
While 2024 PT5, 1991 VG, and 2022 NX1 are the only published examples of short captures, de la Fuente Marcos stated there are several other undocumented instances of temporary flybys.
Robert Jedicke, U of T alumnus and astronomer at the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, told CNN, “We think that there is about one dishwashersize minimoon in the Earth-Moon system at any time, but they are so difficult to detect that most of them go undiscovered during the time that they remain bound to Earth.”
Jedicke also mentioned that, with its 10-meter diameter, the 2024 PT5 is the largest captured object discovered to date.
Astronomers say Asteroid 2024 PT5 is expected to make a flyby on January 9, 2025, and become Earth’s mini-moon again briefly in November 2055 and early 2084.
U of T ranks fourth globally in a recent NTU Rankings list
Ranked among 1,200 institutions, U of T places fourth after Harvard University, Stanford University and University College London.
Fu Contributor
On September 1, the National Taiwan University (NTU) released its yearly World University Rankings List, placing the University of Toronto (U of T) fourth overall among 1,200 globally featured institutions.
First released in 2007, the NTU Rankings, also known as the “Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities,” was developed by a research team led by professor of library and information science at NTU, Dr. Mu-Hsuan Huang. The NTU Rankings were initially co-hosted by NTU and the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan until it transitioned to its own in 2012.
The rankings are based on the research productivity and impact of institutions’ scientific papers. This year, Harvard University took the top spot, followed by Stanford University, University College London, and U of T.
Institutions are ranked according to six categories—agriculture, engineering, life sciences, medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences—and divided into 27 subfields, such as agricultural sciences, civil engineering, and immunology. This year, U of T placed in the top 10 in subfields including biology & biochemistry, clinical medicine, neuroscience & behaviour, psychiatry/psychology, and general social sciences.
U of T was the highest-ranked Canadian university and was joined by the University of British Columbia and McGill University in the list’s top 100. The University of Alberta, McMaster University, Université de Montréal, and the University of Calgary placed among the top 200 institutions.
In the ranking’s knowledge categories, U of T ranked high in medicine, social sciences, and life sciences, scoring second, third, and twelfth respectively.
Compared to last year’s rankings, U of T improved three places in the social sciences category from sixth to third, and improved one place in the overall cat egory from fifth to fourth.
To calculate the rank ings, NTU scores universities based on eight specific indicators which fall under
three factors: research productivity, research impact and research excellence.
Research productivity is the total research output of universities while research impact is determined by the number of times other research papers cite papers produced by a given university. Research excellence is measured by the h-index, a ranking system which measures the quantity and quality of institutions’ papers, as well as the frequency of highly-cited research and its presence in reputable journals.
In weighting the final score, research productivity, impact, and excellence make up 25 per cent, 35 per cent, and 40 per cent respectively.
The methodology behind NTU Rankings
NTU uses the Web of Science (WoS) platform by the analytics company Clarivate to compile the overall citation list. WoS comprises a wide variety of papers from around the world, thereby reducing any potential for regional biases.
According to Clarivate, WoS consists of over 2.5 billion cited references. Of these references, NTU mainly uses the papers from the Science Citation Index Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index of WoS to determine the total quantitative research output of universities.
NTU also uses the Essential Science Indicators database by Clarivate to determine highly cited papers. Clarivate defines highly cited papers as its database’s top one per cent of cited papers.
NTU also determines high-impact journals in its research excellence category through Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports, which compiles a list of reputable journals utilizing the WoS Core Collection’s criteria for journals, which bases reputability on “objectivity, selectivity, and collection dynamics.”
Securing high rankings is not new for U of T as the university performed well in previous editions of the NTU Rankings. Past editions reveal that the university has placed among the overall list’s top 10 institutions since it first appeared on the overall rankings and achieved respectable positions in the knowledge fields of medicine, social sciences, and life sciences.
Overall, the latest NTU Rankings highlight U of T’s continued excellence in research and education, reinforcing its status as a leading institution on the global stage.
Diana
Illustration: Buket S. Baykal
Photo credit: Ziead Kaddoura
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Opinion: The Medium is … medium
Engaging with the hellholes of student politics at UTM.
Silas Liening Contributor
As an international student from a country that is considered to hold a strong democratic tradition, what I see at this university is a pretty meager sight to behold. Strong political opinions are uncommon, and are not regularly held nor protested about at this prestigious university.
Of course we must acknowledge the People’s Circle of Palestine — which demonstrated pro-Palestinian views for disclosure and financial divestment from the University of Toronto (U of T)’s institutional ties to Israeli connections — as an important expression of opinion for the student body. While the People’s Circle of Palestine was not without criticism, it was a real attempt to demand responsibility from the U of T’s governing body and of President Meric Gertler. Now, with our world of smartphones and instant access to all kinds of information, there is a need to further engage and debate about the political nature of our time.
But is this heightened need reflected in the ethos of our current political moment?
This summer’s mayoral by-election in Mississauga breezed by and the voter turnout was 140,020 out of 545,512, or only 25.67 per cent, of its eligible voters. Of this number, only one third voted for the person who actually won.
I’ll do you one worse: the UTMSU 2024-2025 election that is held every winter semester had an impressive voter turnout of 16.3%. Early allegations and later CRO-confirmed truths (which can be read about on The Varsity’s website in greater detail) certainly do not inspire great trust in the democratic process at UTM, the transfer of power, and in our strength as voting students. There is a reduced sense of purpose and confidence that your vote actually matters, and a sense that we can’t trust any generation of UTMSU executives because both sides are supported by the same lineage of the ‘UTMSU elite.’ It’s up to us to care about whether we adhere to democracy and the ideal of free speech, and I am not sure that we do.
A dwindling democracy
The GTA is the most diverse region in Canada, and I cannot help but wonder how strongly ethnicity and non-local upbringing play into the very low voter turnout. Certainly, trust in political institutions and figures is eroding, but people may also be preoccupied with other matters, such as grades, clubs, family matters, and the cost of living. But historically speaking, politics was often a zestful conversation to have, if not a daily one. Why is engaging in student politics memed upon? Is anybody even reading this?
Furthermore, Mississauga’s diverse ethnic population makes it so that different perspectives and levels of comfort in participating in the democratic process may inform people’s decision to vote. In my opinion, the ethnic ideologies that inform peoples‘ worldviews should be tolerated in democratic contexts even when they seem problematic from a liberal standpoint, but not left without questioning. How can we as an international bunch of people coexisting be gatekeepers to our own traditions when now and here is a good place to test out ideological differences?
The importance of a “fourth power”
And here is where The Medium comes in, our ‘fourth power’ at this phenomenal institution. Any independent student newspaper’s job is to promote student perspectives within the limits of a strict word count and very specific spacing requirements. In the past, I found The Medium’s role in engaging with student politics quite lacking: the opinions about UTMSU’s mishaps were not covered rigorously and, though the headlines were gripping, the writing was not so much. Overall, why does this all feel like a gigantic waste of paper?
As someone who is engaged in student politics and a writer for The Medium, I felt I had to throw this voice into the void of what we are doing. Where is the ferocity around a topic that concerns nothing less than our Union and how we organize together? We may not all agree that democracy is the way to go, but uniting together? The Medium has platformed only mild language and unrigorous engagement in student politics, but a student newspaper is supposed to inspire dissent and conversations over provocative and political issues.
There must be a platform where we can speak respectfully, perhaps sometimes sarcastically, and — most importantly — without always politically agreeing with each other, while acknowledging that mindsets, systems of ideas, and beliefs other than their own may still have merit.
Moving forward
So allow me to finish with a solution: TransparencyUTMSU is a group that published vital information on a series of political decisions made by the UTMSU last year, promoting discussion surrounding the extension of the student center, ineffective leadership outcomes, and nepotism in the lineage of presidencies that are set by UTMSU’s top brass. TransparencyUTMSU highlights what is integral to a functioning democratic system: a critically engaged voice of reason that isn’t afraid to provoke dissent and call people out. It promotes the flow of information to the average student that cares about where their tuition money goes, namely down the drain of the UTMSU.
I have yet to understand the role of political parties at the UTMSU, as well as affiliated political clubs on this campus. There is also a lack of self-oversight and critical engagement with what we find, although The Medium and TransparencyUTMSU may be able to cover this task if the former took itself and its journalistic task more seriously. Part of this issue, I deem, is that students are writing articles just for the purpose of trying to build their writing portfolios or gear up for journalism school. This is fine. But moving forward, as students, we must do better at engaging with student politics and political ideas in general: not just for building our portfolios or resume, but for each other’s sake.
Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshhkumar
Is Canada still an attractive education destination for foreign students?
Visa caps, broken residency promises, and a strained education system lead many to question the realities of post-secondary education in Canada.
Vanessa Bogacki Contributor
Over the past few months, Canada’s International student system has received much criticism because of the government’s international student visa cap and unfulfilled permanent residency promises, generating concerns and protests where people — namely international students — have criticized Canadian authorities for enabling economic issues, housing deficits, and inadequate employment opportunities for international students.
The recent spike in public rage is in response to Canada restricting the number of issued permits and international students allowed to enter the country. In 2024, the Government of Canada declared that it would cut the number of study permits by a third and allow no more than 360,000 newcomers. This decision was attributed to the pressure that international students have exerted on housing and other related social amenities, especially depending on hired cities’ rental demand. Still, the international students explain that they have been crucified for what they regard as systemic problems in the country. International students who were initially ushered in by Canada’s liberal immigration policies have been cut off from the promise of high-quality education, decent living standards, and a permanent future in Canada. Many chose to respond by taking their concerns, utter disappointment, and feelings of betrayal to the streets in protests throughout the GTA
The student demonstrators complain that the government is using immigrants and students as a scapegoat for Canada’s inability to sustain its growing population. The carrots of permanent residency that used to attract thousands of students to Canada seem distant as the government continues to overcomplicate post-graduate work permits and immigration options. But how did this crisis start?
The first cause of this crisis is the recent growth of the international education industry in Canada over the past decade. Another factor has been that institutions have pursued foreign students as a source of income on their own. Overseas students pay far more for tuition and many institutions depend on these revenues to fund the establishment. Therefore, this recent cap has caused panic in the education sector. For instance, Colleges Ontario President Marketa Evans told City News that Ontario colleges could lose about $1.7 billion of their income because of reduced international students which can result in programme cuts or cancellations.
This underscores a major flaw in the system: Canadian post-secondary institutions depend heavily on international students, making them vulnerable to policy shifts. Meanwhile, the Ca-
nadian government seems overburdened even while denying any imbalance between immigration and infrastructure development. Such fears have been echoed by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who has called for Canada to become more protective of its citizens, given the pressure it is placing on housing in the country and other social services.
On one hand, international students bring in huge incomes. On the other hand, the government claims that free expansion will only make things worse. But this stance does not explain the deeper structural problems within housing and labour markets. From the students’ standpoint, this situation has developed a certain type of disorientation. People arrived in Canada intending to have a future here but many of them ended up with no or very little support. Social isolation and exploitation add to their problems. Besides, the recent changes in policy decisions on the issuance of work permits for students’ spouses has made the issues worse since the students have to struggle to secure decent jobs and stable shelters.
These policies imply that international students are no longer welcomed, leaving the question as to whether Canada will remain an attractive destination for talent acquisition. In my opinion, this crisis can be regarded as the outcome of educational management’s misperception. Although the local and international parties enjoyed the growth of international students in the past, they did not see the negative effects of population growth and poor infrastructural development.
In the past, while successfully marketing itself to become an education hub, Canada’s government has recently started backing away from its promises surrounding immigration, and several institutions in the education sector are suffering from financial insecurity alongside these groups of learners who feel cheated. This problem cannot be solved by limiting student visas even more, but by solving the housing problems and economic crisis.
Canada must develop a supply of affordable housing, increase the quality of employment opportunities, and provide adequate support to domestic and international students who come to the country to study and build a life. Otherwise, Canada may lose the image of a hospitable country for international students who historically have contributed to the development of the nation’s social, cultural, and economic life.
Falling into Comfort:
The Aesthetic and Reflection of the Season
From warm drinks to fall fashion, discover why autumn is the season of comfort and change.
Debbie Wong Contributor
The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are turning brown, and it’s time to defrost your pair of Uggs. The end of summer not only marks the beginning of a new school year but also the arrival of fall. At this time of the year, many students settle into a sense of nostalgia and feelings of renewal as they make new goals and reflect on their lives. So, why do so many people find fall so comforting?
Our senses, especially our smell and taste, can powerfully immerse us into a situation. Seasonal drinks like the pumpkin spice latte and hot cider, a bowl of hearty soup, and anything cinnamon-related fills up our senses.
Just like you may be immersed in memories upon smelling a bottle of perfume you used to wear, smelling scents like cinnamon, pumpkin spice or salted caramel gives us a sense of comfort, marking the second harvest of the year. It’s a time when nature prepares for rest and we too instinctively slow down and reflect. Fall’s comfort can also be linked to the colours we are exposed to during this season. In psychology, the colour brown is often associated with security and safety, whereas the colour orange is associated with warmth, sensuality, and rejuvenation, aligning with the feelings of coziness and relaxation.
Fall is also the best season for the fashionistas. It is the time when people can truly express their personality through their outfits.
Summer is too hot to wear a leather jacket or knee-high boots and winter is too cold to not wear your bulky winter parka that covers your whole outfit. Fall’s weather, however, is the perfect mix of summer and winter, allowing you to layer your basic white tee with an oversized leather jacket and maybe a burgundy scarf around your neck to make your outfit stand out. But as fun as fall might be, seasonal trends often raise some concerns about consumerism and fast fashion.
Many people get the urge to buy new things or add new pieces to their closets when the season switches, even if they already have similar ones around their homes. These practices often lead to environmental impacts that contribute to waste and depletion of resources. The pressure to keep up with trends can overshadow the joy of authentic self-expression, leading us to prioritize fleeting trends over sustainability and genuine self-expression. This cycle not only harms the environment but also disconnects us from the true essence of fall.
Falling leaves, shorter days, and cooler nights are all signs of renewal in the circle of nature. Naturally, our bodies seize the opportunity to reflect on our own natural cycles as we retrospect on the achievements of the past year and anticipate the future. Moreover, with changing weather to lower temperatures, people prefer staying in and keeping warm, which is perfect for moments of solitude, nostalgia, and practicing gratitude for all the amazing experiences and memories the year has brought you. Unlike the busy hustle of summer, autumn offers a natural pause, encouraging introspection and personal growth. Many find this time as a “mini New Year,” where the falling leaves symbolize shedding old habits and making room for renewal. The cooler air prompts us to cozy up with our thoughts, fostering a sense of clarity. Fall allows us to reconnect with our aspirations, setting the stage for self-improvement as we move into the winter months.
As the season of reflection and self-improvement, fall serves as the best time to start new hobbies and explore creative pursuits. The slower pace of the season naturally encourages introspection and the desire to explore new interests. We are motivated to welcome change in our own lives by the changes we see in nature. Fall’s cozy atmosphere is conducive to reflection and creative expression.
The appeal of fall lies in its ability to evoke comfort, creativity, and reflection. Warm aromas, bright colours, and comfy clothing create a special ambience that invites us to embrace change and slow down. Fall brings a sense of stability and nostalgia, reminding us of nature’s cycle and our desire for rest and renewal. Whether we’re layering up or drinking a pumpkin spice latte, it’s the ideal season for selfexpression and reinvention, as a time to consider personal development, take up new interests, and get back in touch with our true selves.
Illustration: Buket S. Baykal
Photo credit: Sara Li
Beyond work and school
What my introductory psychology class taught me about the power of my thoughts.
Jia Bawa Contributor
When reminiscing back on my childhood, I am reminded of how every time I would make pessimistic statements or express feelings of failure, my parents would often caution me with the phrase, “don’t say bad things if you don’t want them to come true!” At the time, I chalked it up to superstitious drivel, abiding by their wishes most of the time to keep the peace in the household. I didn’t really think there was any validity or truth behind their warnings. That is, at least until around halfway through my first-year introduction to psychology course, when I was introduced to the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy.
Self-fulfilling prophecy is omnipresent. “It is one of the most pervasive biases of all,” my professor would remind us, time and time again. We fall victim to it every day, without even realizing it, and stay suspended in its grip more than we’d like to admit. As the name suggests, self-fulfilling prophecies are beliefs that lead to their own fulfillment. To elaborate, it is a psychological phenomenon where our social beliefs and judgements lead us to behave in ways that produce their apparent confirmation.
For instance, teachers’ beliefs about their students act as selffulfilling prophecies. If a teacher encounters the sibling of an earlier student of theirs who excelled in academics, the teacher will have this expectation that the sibling of that student would be equally as academically inclined. As a result of this expectation, the teacher will behave in more favourable ways towards the sibling and show them more grace than normal. In turn, the student responds positively and tries harder in class, there-
by confirming their teacher’s expectations. This phenomenon is referred to as behavioural confirmation, which is a type of self-fulfilling prophecy whereby people’s social expectations lead them to act in ways that cause others to confirm their expectations.
In our everyday life, we are preyed on by the self-fulfilling prophecy without even realizing it. “I am going to fail this exam.” “There’s no way I’ll be able to submit this in time.” “I know I am going to hate socializing with XYZ.” “This class is going to be so hard.” Theseare all examples of self-fulfilling prophecies. While I was learning about the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy in class, I was struck with a sudden realization of how powerful our thoughts really are. They can potentially change the trajectory of our life. If I am a generally pessimistic person and have negative expectations of myself and the world around me, I will subconsciously act in ways that will end up fulfilling my beliefs, further enforcing my earlier pessimistic view of the world. On the flipside, if I am more optimistic, my actions will reflect my thoughts and my positive beliefs will end up being reinforced.
Our tendencies can sabotage us, or they can bring us more success and happiness than we could have ever imagined. I know, at this point, you’re probably thinking, what is this girl rambling on about? There’s no way our thoughts have that much power. But that is exactly the point. Our thoughts and beliefs are the building blocks that lay the foundation for how we lead the rest of our day, week, month, and eventually, life. In the face of a challenge, if we choose to persevere and not give up by adapting a growth mindset, if we choose to reassure ourselves instead of engaging in self-depreciating thinking, then our thoughts can literally become reality.
Midterms are approaching and soon the work will pile up, and so will feelings of procrastination and depreciation of one’s capabilities. When I feel overwhelmed, I take a moment to center myself. I focus on my breathing, calm my racing heart, and tell myself: “you’ve done this before, Jia! You can do it again. Just breathe.”
Once I feel like I have control over my body again, I urge myself to first make a game plan to tackle my deadlines, and then get to work on finishing my work, one by one. By thinking in a more productive manner, I behave in a more constructive and useful manner and, as a result, I can do it. Why? Because I believed I could.
On the other hand, in the past, and even now sometimes, I have been a victim of maladaptive thinking. I start to catastrophize all the work I have left, leading me down a spiral of thinking and believing that I can’t do it, that I am not good enough, and that I will never be able to overcome this. That leads to me having a panic attack, breaking down into tears, and I end up wasting more of the precious time I have left.
In both these scenarios, the only thing that changed was my thinking. And that changed everything. Our thoughts and beliefs are extremely powerful weapons, and if utilized to their maximum capabilities, they can lead us to heights we never dared to dream of.
Being aware of the self-fulfilling prophecy, however, doesn’t mean we won’t be susceptible to it. We will. But it is a matter of being able to realize that the self-fulfilling prophecy is at play and pushing ourselves out of that abyss, away from contemplating the what ifs and the failure. In my experience, to focus on the present and control what we can is all the ammunition you need to turn a bad day into a better one.
Illustration: Buket S. Baykal
features
A review of the Theatre of Science’s first seminar on theatre and the environment
The seminar included
a lecture alongside short performances by undergraduate acting students, exploring the relationship between theatre and the environment.
Zainab Hassan Contributor
On September 20, the Theatre of Science at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Department of English and Drama hosted a free, inperson seminar as part of its JHI annual seminar series on theatre and the environment.
The eight-part series features explorations about the different ways science and the arts can help further each other’s goals and spread shared ideals to a larger audience. The eight-part series delves into how science and the arts can mutually enhance their objectives and communicate shared ideals to a broader audience.
The series seeks to connect students, staff and interested strangers who share a passion for both science and the arts with the goal of fostering a collaborative space for those participating.
The first seminar, on theatre and the environment, centred on the question, “Is there a role for theatre in climate change?” According to Canadian playwright and climate activist, Chantal Bilodeau, the answer is yes.
The seminar was split into two sections. In the first half, Bilodeau shared her journey into writing about climate change through the lens of her play—Sila. Bilodeau described the challenges she faced and how her views on the world have changed over time,
while also touching on the importance of environmental conscientiousness and activism. To summarize her thoughts, we should not see the world as something to be used, but rather as something to care and love for.
Bilodeau’s Sila combines hard science with spirituality and the essence of the world. Through the unorthodox implementation of performance theatre, like shadow puppets and poetry, Bilodeau transformed the scientific realities of climate change into a narrative of hope.
“If I was going to write about climate change,” Bilodeau stated, “I would have to change how I wrote my play.” She explained how important it was “to understand how all these things fit together.”
Bilodeau highlighted the concept of radical hope as the key principle in writing about climate change. She stressed that the theatre’s role is not only to make audiences aware of the problem but to serve as a catalyst, inspiring them to recognize that solutions exist and motivating them to take action as part of those solutions.
The lecture concluded with two acting students from UTM’s Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies department acting out a scene from Sila
The performance was a moving demonstration of the inevitable and cyclical nature of death in the environment. The scene contrasted death with the destruction man creates through climate change—a truly emotional scene that accentuated the play’s main themes.
The second half of the seminar, though not a lecture, was equally as educational and engaging. Theatre and drama students were divided into small groups of about five, where they discussed, rehearsed, and performed five-minute plays that offered commentary on the environment and human attitudes toward it. Not only was the performance educational and enjoyable, but it was clear even the performers were having a great time on stage.
Overall, the entire seminar was entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking and left participants inspired and eager on how the arts can drive meaningful environmental action.
Photo credit: Dr. Madeleine Mant
A review of Mississauga’s La Carnita
With a range of cocktail drinks and various taco options, La Carnita is the perfect Mexican-inspired restaurant for your next adventure.
Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez Contributor
Located in Square One Shopping Centre, La Carnita is a Mexicaninspired restaurant known for its vibrant food and lively atmosphere. The restaurant is only a 10-minute drive and a 37-minute bus ride from the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Nestled inside the busy mall, the restaurant offers an impressive range of stylish dishes and drinks. Whether you are looking to catch up with friends over some cocktails or indulge in a three-course meal, La Carnita has you covered.
A look inside La Carnita’s vibrant interior
Walking into the restaurant, the ambiance and modern vibe are perfect for young students. The restaurant features warm lighting and tones throughout, with graffiti and murals painted across the entire space. La Carnita combines Toronto’s street art culture with a cozy industrial design reminiscent of a colourful Mexican street.
Situated in downtown Mississauga, the ceiling of the restaurant is levelled high up from the main dining area with plants and light decorations hanging from the top. There is also a garage door that covers the entire side of the main dining area, giving the place a rustic, urban feel.
Inside the restaurant, visitors will hear a variety of Latin hits with the perfect volume—loud enough to dance to the beat and sing the lyrics, but quiet enough to talk with your friends.
In a single sentence, La Carnita is the ideal spot for Generation Z to capture the perfect Instagram post, with its colourful food and stylish drinks. It serves as a party-like atmosphere while still offering a relaxing and welcoming environment for all: couples, friend groups and even families.
A culinary escape
As you walk into the restaurant, the servers welcome you and walk you to your table. As you receive the menu, the server takes the time to ex-
plain each section of the restaurant and describe the meaning behind certain spaces.
Their friendly and accommodating nature soothes every guest, particularly first-time customers who are new to the restaurant’s unique food and drink options. While La Carnita has long wait times during its peak hours, especially during the weekends, the incredible quality of service remains the same.
Now the good stuff—what delicious items are featured on the menu? While La Carnita is known to offer Mexican food, its dishes are reflective of traditional Mexican cuisine. Rather, the restaurant offers a new mix of flavours and colours inspired by Mexican culture. The menu blends traditional Mexican staples and spices with modern culinary twists using various Western ingredients. The menu offers a range of appetizers, sides, main dishes and desserts, catering to different dietary preferences and restrictions.
Starting with appetizers and sides, the Tostada de Ceviche is a fan favourite. It is made with ahi tuna, watermelon, cucumber and crispy wonton, offering a light and refreshing start to a meal. This meal is a fusion of traditional Mexican tostadas and Asian-inspired flavours, combining fresh ingredients and vibrant spices for a unique culinary experience.
While La Carnita is known to offer Mexican food, its dishes are reflective of traditional Mexican cuisine. Rather, the restaurant offers a new mix of flavours and colours inspired by Mexican culture. The menu blends traditional Mexican staples and spices with modern culinary twists using various Western ingredients.
Another standout is the Mexican Street Corn— corn on the cob slathered in mayo, cheese and chilli powder. In Mexico, this snack is usually served with different spices, but La Carnita’s version combines the smoky, creamy and slightly spicy tastes well enough to resemble the original dish.
The restaurant also offers other classical appetizer options, such as guacamole bowls with chips on the side, along with a Mexican-inspired poutine, where vegetables and sauces are added to the original poutine dish with cheese for a spicy, flavorful kick.
The most popular choice of food at La Carnita, and what the restaurant is known for, is its tacos. Each taco is crafted with care, balancing the inside of the taco with colourful toppings and sauces. The tortillas are perfectly sized for the tacos and designed to be sturdy, ensuring they hold together and don’t break—a huge bonus as tacos can get messy and be easily snapped.
From sweet to sour, spicy to normal, meat to veggie, the range of tacos at the restaurant is the highlight of the menu. The tacos come individually, and most people need two or three to feel full, however, the price is reasonable which allows you to mix, match and share to get a full sample of the taco menu.
As much as they are fun to look at and capture in pictures, their craft cocktail selection is wide and delectable. Their margaritas, tequilas, and mescals come in a variety of different flavours including sweet or sour options. There is also a variety of beers and non-alcoholic beverages, like Jarritos—a classical Mexican pop drink.
La Carnita offers a memorable and indulgent experience for everyone. It is an amazing place for casual dining, celebrations or simply a fun night out if you are looking to explore a new combination of flavours, atmosphere and excitement with your meal. If you find yourself at Square One Shopping Centre, be sure to stop by the restaurant and review it for yourself!
Photo credit: Yirui Gu
Arts
The art of tattooing
A look into the history behind tattooing and how it became the art form it is today.
Skyler Piskoroski Contributor
Tattooing has existed for thousands of years in various cultures. One of the oldest proofs of tattooing was found on Ötzi the Iceman, a mummified man who is thought to be 5,300 years old. In ancient times, tattoos resembled dotted lines, diamonds, and patterns that were mainly done with sharpened wooden tools, though recent discoveries have found sharpened turkey legs to be used as well. These original forms of tattooing served various purposes: protection, displaying social status or religious beliefs, and even forms of punishment.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, tattoos became more popular in the Western world, particularly among groups like sailors, prisoners, and circus performers. These populations were viewed as “deviants” and their ink resulted in tattoos be-
ing viewed as bad. This negative connotation began to change in the mid 20th century when musicians, bikers, and other countercultures began getting tattooed as an act of rebellion against the taboo of having tattoos, once again changing how they were viewed by the public. Today, about one third of all Canadians are tattooed and for many different reasons: as memorials for loved ones and important life events, as conversation starters, and as a form of self-expression by having a piece of art permanently on their body. This is perhaps the greatest change from 19th-century views of tattooing, and rightfully so. Tattooing is not only a matter of artistic ability. It necessitates the transfer of art skills from paper to skin, as well as impeccable sterilization practice to ensure the health and safety of artist and client. Tattoo artists also hold a great deal of responsibility in ensuring they fulfill their clients’ wishes, as their work is permanent on someone else’s body and often holds memories and meaning for the client 2— even if only as a form of self-expression.
The process of becoming a tattoo artist involves lots of time, commitment, and practice. In addition to learning how to use a tattoo machine and work on skin, there are many different tattooing styles, all with their own rules and guidelines. Although some artists will get to a point of specializing in one style, this only comes after learning all of the different styles and how to execute each of them.
Some artists go on to work in multiple styles to serve more clients, and thus have to learn and perfect all of them, both in designs and in the finished product on the skin.
Tattooing has evolved enormously over many thousands of years, from cultural meanings to signifying deviance. Rebellion to a widely accepted art form. Not only are they increas-
ingly common for people to have and want, but many big companies have evolved to allow tattoos in their dress code. Despite how normal tattoos are today, it is important to understand their history and evolution over the many years in terms of their purpose, meaning, public perception, and now as a respected art form.
How to compile the soundtrack to your life
If your life were a movie, you would need the perfect playlist.
Cristina Pincente Contributor
If you have ever wondered what makes the perfect playlist, then you’ve found yourself in the right place. And no, I am not here to push all my music taste onto you because I do not claim to know what your perfect songs to comprise your perfect playlist would be. What I do know that the perfect playlist requires three things: genre, knowing your audience, and the art of the queue.
We are creatures of genre, and we all have a few genres at the centre of our hearts. Like all the books we read and all the serialized TV shows we watch, it comes down to how that genre speaks to us. We consume the genres we relate to most based on the feelings they conjure within us and the release we feel after we have learned something about ourselves. We search for the same thing when we listen to music, we want to provoke an emotion
we can relate to. Moreover, certain genres of music are strongly associated with specific emotions in us. For example, no one cries after listening to EDM or laughs after listening to a heart-wrenching ballad. That would not make sense. If you are going to compile playlists that fit the soundtrack of your life, you need to discover what genres speak to you.
Have you ever noticed how movie editors always seem to pick the right song to play at the right time to stir up our emotions even more? You can do the same. Simply play the music that fits your mood. Listening to something happy does not make sense if you are feeling down. Instead, you should play the angriest and saddest songs you know and expel those feelings you’re keeping in a cage. You must pick the right moment.
I would not oppose an amalgamation of genres in one playlist for those days when you do not know what you are feeling. If that is the case for you, this step is essential to learn how to consume your playlist most ef-
fectively. Once you have selected your genre and embraced your mood, you can master the art of the queue. Sometimes, our emotions are so distinct to us in a moment that shuffling a three-hour playlist does not work for you. Perhaps one song rides our emotion through to the end, and then we lose it by the next song. You do not want this. Instead, you want to keep that feeling going, but not all your songs will do that for you. Knowing which songs to play next will only make the music consumption more powerful. This is the same reason why we binge serialized TV series. We want the experience to continue. However, a good playlist is not short, and a long playlist is not concise enough to be effective on shuffle.
Bonus tip: The last song you play in your jam session is the most important because it will likely be stuck in your head for the next few hours.
Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshhkumar
Illustration credit: Kirsty Carnan
Singers are the poets of today
Poetry may seem like a thing of the past, but it is still as popular as ever.
Yusuf Larizza-Ali Contributor
Poetry uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings and words to create literary art. Many poets such as William Wordsworth, William Blake, or Robert Frost are centuries old, and because the most popular poets come from the past it seems that poetry has declined in popularity. While it reigned in the world of art in the past, poetry may have moved down due to more modern forms of art reigning today.
Although popular poetry has taken on a different form in today’s day and age, poetry remains at the top like it always has been. The action of using words and aesthetics to make meaning still reigns supreme, but the popular poems are called songs and the poets are singers. If we break down the definition, songs are just poems. Song lyrics involve words placed together with aesthetic qualities. The only difference is the addition of music to complement the words. Just as many poets have their own English classes dedicated to their work, some singers have classes devoted to them as well. An example of this
is the course, ENG316H5, a special topics course that focused on Taylor Swift’s work. The course treated Swift’s music like any other form of literature and analyzed its words and music to dig into its deeper meanings.
It is widely known that poets intend to tell a story or message through their poems. For example, Wordsworth’s “Surprised by Joy” tells a story of grief, Blake’s “The Tyger” discusses something terrifying, and Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” tells a story about the unknown. Like these poets, Swift has a story she’s looking to tell in her songs.
Many of Swift’s songs, such as “I Knew You Were Trouble,” tell the story of her ex-boy-
friends and breakups. She is also known for other recurring themes in her music such as her response to hate and criticism in songs like “Shake it Off.” These count as storytelling in the same way that the stories of poems do. In this sense, Swift’s work proves that modern songs are just poems with music added. The core of poetry is still present in the words and storytelling.
Swift’s song “Anti-Hero” demonstrates similarity to poems with darker themes. The song discusses Swift’s struggles with lines like, “I’m the problem, it’s me,” and, “It must be ex-
hausting always rooting for the anti-hero.” This song mirrors Wordsworth’s poem because they both discuss the narrators’ feelings of sadness. However, the addition of music to match the lyrics helps the song feel like an entirely different art form than poetry. With pop songs becoming more popular than traditional poetry, it is easy to see songs as the new modern art form. However, Swift’s music conveys similar themes and shows how songs function the same way as poetry, just with music added. The use of words, aesthetics and rhythmic elements are still present.
Escapism on screen: The rise of TV fantasies during hardships
Understanding TV escapism, its origins, and pros and cons.
Presha Dev Contributor
Escapism through TV has become increasingly common in our lives, especially with the expanding genres of shows and movies being released. People will often distract themselves from unpleasant aspects of reality by binge-watching a series, creating fan accounts and edits, and writing fanfiction about their favourite characters. Some might even daydream, imagining themselves living in the worlds depicted in these media forms, crafting their own stories.
But why is it such a common coping mechanism? The answer seems to vary from person to person. For some, it’s a way to divert from personal problems, whether they are related to work, family, self, or relationships. It could be that some movies or shows provide people with comfort, and many resonate with fictional characters and form attachments to them. On the other hand, looking at our human history, storytelling has been prominent across various cultures as a means to imagine another reality and live through these stories being passed on.
Across generations, the art behind storytelling has remained the same. It’s the medium that has changed with time.
A prime example of this brings us back to the 2020 lockdown, with many people on TikTok and binging the Harry Potter movies. The love for the series led to the creation of #dracotok where fans of Harry Potter, specifically of the character Draco Malfoy, would create video edits posing as students of Hogwarts, portraying interactions with Malfoy. Various trends took over and people would photoshop themselves with Malfoy, imagining a relationship with him and creating POV scenarios. This progressed to the concept of ‘shifting re-
alities’ where people believed that infinite realities existed and you would have to enter a state of lucid dreaming that would transfer your consciousness to Hogwarts, allowing you to live as a student of Wizardry. Many steps for this process would be carefully created and shared amongst fans, showing escapism through the Harry Potter series and diverting from the isolation caused by the pandemic.
Knowing all of this, let’s debrief: What are the pros and cons of escapism through TV? Without a doubt, this can improve one’s mental health as a way of stress reduction and distraction from problems, as these false realities give people what they lack in their authentic realities. Some people may also meet others who use the same series to cope and destress with. Sharing similar interests and potentially similar situations allows for bonding and creating meaningful connections. On the other hand, this prevents people from resolving their real problems and can lead them to fall behind in life (i.e. work or school). The problem isn’t being solved, just ignored. It can also cause people to withdraw from real relationships and create distance from their loved ones.
So, is this healthy? Well, balance is key. It can be beneficial if you aren’t consumed by escapism and use it to de-stress sometimes. However, trying to completely shut out reality, and living through a series can have immensely negative psychological impacts on anyone.
Illustration credit: Buket S. Baykal
Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshhkumar
11 sports & health
“You are what you eat,” so how are UTM students doing when it comes to food?
Limited food options on campus and high prices might be affecting your academic performance.
Gisele Tang Contributor
With food prices skyrocketing and the number of healthy food choices on campus shrinking, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us students to maintain healthy eating habits that allow us to thrive both physically and mentally. For us students that don’t have the option to meal prep every day, what do we do?
You might be familiar with major food spots in the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), such as Quesada, Harvey’s, Subway and Ah-So Sushi. Food choices include burrito bowls, burgers, sandwiches, and ramen. Despite these food varieties, you might notice that something is missing: a healthy meal on a budget. Although students might be able to get some carbohydrates and protein from the above food options, these options still aren’t all that healthy.
For example, you might be able to get some protein from Harvey’s chicken fingers or burgers, but is that piece of fried
Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
Running fever strikes Toronto
There’s arguably no better time for running than during the fall.
you different. Otherwise, running will become a chore instead of the thrill of the runners high.
Do you find it too hot to run during the summer? How about too cold to run in the winter? Well then, you’re out of excuses for fall when the temperature is just right.
If you’re a committed runner desperate for the sweltering summer runs to end, then there’s no better reward than the crisp fall air. If you’re just starting out, it’s the perfect time to set a benchmark for your training in good humidity before the winter days take hold.
chicken nourishing your body, or are the vegetable oils used in the preparation process more harmful than helpful? Similarly, the small scoop of chicken and a handful of lettuce in a burrito bowl from Quesada would hardly provide enough protein and fibre for your body to recover after a session at the gym.
Even if you meticulously plan your food choices, expensive pricing provides another challenge in maintaining a healthy eating habit on campus. With a regular-sized Booster Juice drink costing over nine dollars and a small salad with three slices of chicken costing over ten dollars, you might ultimately find yourself opting for cheaper junk foods with larger portions that can keep your belly full during lectures.
Furthermore, there are very limited gluten-free (GF) and dairy-free (DF) food options for students with food sensitivities. One might think that these food sensitivities are not relevant to university students, but lactose-intolerance is one of the most common food sensitivities, affecting 44 per cent of Canadians. The lack of GF and DF options makes it a headache for students with food sensitivity to purchase food from campus. On days when these students are simply too tired to do meal preparation, one might decide to starve rather than deal with body inflammation.
With the energy students spend studying, it is no surprise that we are constantly craving snacks in between classes. Sometimes we might want something sweet to boost our mood, so we go for a doughnut in Tim Horton’s, budget-friendly and delicious, sounds great! But if you are ever craving something healthier, it might not be as easy.
When you see that small fruit cup costing approximately five dollars, you might be tempted for the doughnut again, even if your body wants otherwise.
Then what about those “healthy energy bars” in the vending machines across campus? Most of them are marketed as healthy snack options, but they might be the reason that you are experiencing a sugar crash. On average, these energy bars have 20 grams or more sugar in each portion, hence why you may experience symptoms such as difficulty in concentration and irritability after eating them.
As we learn more about our bodies and how food affects our overall performance and mood, we must raise food awareness and advocate for more healthy, nourishing, and affordable food options. As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Healthy foods not only gives us energy, but contribute to our mental and physical well-being more than we might think!
As an overly keen runner myself, the fall period is the ideal time for light runs and a chance to turn my mind off. Having completed the Toronto Marathon earlier this year and gone through the strenuous training that was needed to complete it, it’s nice to indulge in a period of unstructured training where my runs guide me as much as I guide them.
I hear your stereotypes and fears about running from the other side of the page. You might be worried that over-zealous runners will judge your 5km time. You may also be worried about turning into the kind of person who spends hundreds of dollars on shoes that make you only slightly faster. You may even worry about every runner’s nightmare: if it’s not recorded on your running watch, Strava, or phone, it didn’t happen. Such stereotypes have some merit but are nothing to worry about if you’re getting into running. The most important thing about beginning the runner’s journey is that you do it for yourself and no one else.
This means doing it on your terms. If you want to run with your six-yearold trainers, then you do it. Don’t want to run any further than 5km?
That’s fine too. Everyone’s running journeys are tailored to what they want to get out of it. You should never let anyone tell
Still not convinced? Well then, how about you get out the door and give it a first shot. Beyond the obvious physical health that comes from running for as little as 50 minutes a week, running will reduce stress through releasing endocannabinoids into your blood and brain. This creates shortterm feelings of calm, thus lessening chances of anxiety and depression. This relaxing chemical will also help you sleep better, allowing you to develop a (much) stronger sleep schedule than your average university student. This builds a physically stronger brain through the creation of new brain cells during cardiovascular activity. As long as you keep running at your own pace and don’t overdo things, you will only see benefits from your running experience.
So, you know why you should run but the question remains: where? Mississauga offers a series of running hotspots, including UTM’s neighbouring Erindale Park, which features 222 acres of land for you to run about freely while also offering heaps of challenging hills (should you be so inclined).
If you find yourself in or around UofT’s downtown campus, then I can’t recommend the Toronto waterfront enough. Lakefront Promenade also offers a beautiful view while you sweat it out.
While UTM’s indoor gym includes a 200-metre rubber track that’s great for training year-round, nothing compares to the feeling of fall running. So accept this challenge, lace your running shoes, and experience for yourself the best season to get your body moving.
Felix Hughes Contributor
Illustration credit: Kirsty Carnan
Photo credit: Sara Li
Goals galore: Eagles win huge in second matchweek
The UTM Eagles swept Scarborough in a pair of high-scoring matches.
Pietro Arrigoni Columnist
An unprecedented 16 goals, a double hat-trick, and backto-back wins for the Eagles all took place this past weekend at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)’s South Field.
UTM women’s find the net
On Sunday, our Eagles hosted the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) on matchday two of the tri-campus outdoor soccer season. The women’s team took to the field first, looking to bounce back after an unfortunate loss last week. They set the tone early with a brilliant start, scoring three goals in the first fifteen minutes.
Men’s record biggest
win in over five years
The men’s game was equally as exciting, as the Eagles soared to a comfortable 8-0 win in dominating fashion.
The girls were eager for more, and they did so in style, ending the first half with a 5-0 lead. By that point, Captain Jordan Pawlowski had already scored a quadruple, with a mixture of long-range shots, dazzling solo runs, and precise finishing. Pawlowski added two in the second half, completing a double hat-trick, and surely cementing herself as UTM’s athlete of the week.
To top off a wonderful team performance, Princess Saladino bagged her second goal of the season, and freshman Amal Rashid found herself on the scoresheet with her first UTM goal to round out a massive 8-1 win.
After the game, The Medium asked Winger Laura Neira how her team was able to find their footing after a disappointing opening match. “We developed better chemistry, and our communication improved compared to last game,” said Neira. She also noted that the team was still adjusting in its opening fixture. “We started to learn how each other plays, and for a new team like us, that is a huge win.”
Star midfielder Cedric Ngounou opened the scoring after winning a penalty in the very first minute of the game and dispatching it calmly into the bottom-left corner. Minutes later, Chucks Ugori doubled the lead with a thumping header. It was both players’ first goal for UTM.
Aidan Gideon, who was honoured as Tri-Campus Performer of the Week and UTM Athlete of the Week after a dominating performance last match, got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 before the cooling break. In-form Krish Chavan followed up, scoring UTM’s fourth after a brilliant solo dribble.
Jordan Hanswirth netted a fifth, and veteran midfielder Kushaall Mathew scored his first ever career goal for UTM on a blistering counter-attack.
“I’m very happy to get my first goal, but it’s more about the team effort today,” said Matthew, again demonstrating his experienced leadership and character.
Before the end of the half, Ngounou would add another brace, and when the ref whistled for the break, the scoreline read 7-0 in favor of the Eagles. When asked about the game and his goals, Ngounu later told The Medium, “It’s easy to score when I play with teammates like these.”
The second half was all about game management, something Coach Iyamabo had mentioned the team would want to improve after nearly giving up a 3-0 lead in last week’s game. The boys held possession, created chances and most importantly for Coach Iyamabo, kept a clean sheet.
“When you win 8-0 it’s hard to pick out one player in particular,” said Iyamabo. “But I want to give props to the backline for getting a clean sheet.”
In the dying minutes of the game, striker Kacper Ambrozevic notched his first tally of the season with a neat volley from inside the box. At the final whistle, the Eagles were met with a shower of applause from the fans for their team’s beautiful performance.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will be on the road, playing UTSG Reds at Varsity Stadium under the lights. Women’s kick off at 7:00 p.m. and men’s follow at 9:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for the report, and as always, go Eagles!
